Ch. 10 Vocabulary Words

Plasma

The fluid portion of the blood.

Hematocrit

The percentage of erythrocytes to total blood volume.

Albumin

A protein found in virtually all animals; the most abundant plasma protein.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The oxygen-transporting pigment of erythrocytes.

Anemia

Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood caused by a decreased number of erythrocytes or decreased percentage of hemoglobin in the blood.

Sickle cell anemia

when the body does not form normal hemoglobin. Instead, abnormal hemoglobin is formed that becomes spiky and sharp.

Polycythemia

Presence of an abnormally large number of erythrocytes in the blood.

Leukocytes

White blood cells.

Diapedesis

The passage of blood cells through intact vessel walls into the tissues.

Leukemia

A cancerous condition in which there is an excessive production of immature leukocytes.

Granulocytes

granule-containing white blood cells.

Neutrophils

The most abundant of the white blood cells.

Eosinophils

Granular white blood cells whose granules readily take up a stain called eosin.

Basophils

White blood cells whose granules stain deep blue with basic dye; have a relatively pale nucleus and granular-appearing cytoplasm.

Histamine

A substance that causes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability.

Lymphocytes

Agranular white blood cells formed in the bone marrow that mature in the lymphoid tissue.

Monocytes

Large single-nucleus white blood cell; agranular leukocyte.

Megakaryocytes

Large, multinucleate cells that fragment to produce platelets.

Hematopoiesis

Formation of blood cells.

Hemostasis

The stoppage of bleeding.

Thrombus

A fixed clot that develops and persists in an unbroken blood vessel.

Embolus

A free-floating clot in an unbroken vessel.

Thrombocytopenia

bleeding disorder resulting from an insufficient number of circulating platelets; normal movements can cause spontaneous bleeding from small blood vessels.

Petechiae

Rashlike spots on the skin that indicate widespread bleeding.

Hemophilia

type of bleeding disorders that results from a lack of any of any other the factors needed for clotting, minor trauma results in prolonged bleeding and can be life-threatening

Antigen

Any substance—including toxins, foreign proteins, or bacteria—that, when introduced to the body, is recognized as foreign and activates the immune system.

Antibodies

A specialized substance produced by the body that can provide immunity against a specific antigen.

ABO blood groups

type of blood group with type A and type B antigens that a person inherits. Absence of both results in type O blood

Rh blood groups

type of blood group with RH antigens.